Valve.



No. 690,239.v Patented Dec. 3l, 19m. E. u. cnosv.

VALVE.

(Application tiled Jan. 17. $898.) (lo Model.)

z .N 7 S UNITED TATIES i PATENT FFICE.

i EVERETT U. CROSBY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 690,239, dated. December 31, 1901.

Application filed January 17, 1898. A Serial No. 666,868. (No model.)

` the city of Boston,county ofSuiolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves; and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to that class of valves in which a liquid under pressure is held in check by a valve which is held closed by the action of a less pressure, and is more especially intended for use in connection with dry-pipe sprinkler systems for extinguishing fires, in which systems the water is held in check by the action of a comparatively light air-pressure in the system and is automatically released upon the reduction of the pressure in the system due to the opening of a sprinkler.

It has been customary in valves of the class referred to to hold the inlet-valve closed by the pressure in the system acting upon a movable member located between a chamber which is connected with the system and a supplemental chamber, in which the pressure is less than the pressure in the system. By reason of the greater area of the movable member or by reason of the connections between said membervand the valve the pressure transmitted to the valve through said member is greater than the pressure exerted on said valve by the water, and said valve is thus held closed by the pressure in the system until a sprinkler is opened, when the pressure in the system is reduced and the valve is forced open by the action of the water, which then fills the system and is discharged through the open sprinkler.

One object of the invent-ion is to provide means whereby a valve of the character above described may be held to its seat by the action of a lighter pressure in the system than heretofore without increasing the area of the movable member, or with the same systempressure as heretofore a movable member of less area may be used. This object is accomplished by exhausting the air from the supplemental chamber, so that the effective pressure exerted by the compressed air in the system upon the movable member is correspondingly increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the valve is more quickly released and opened upon the opening of a sprinkler, and this is effected by providing means for breaking the vacuum in the supplemental chamber upon the reduction of pressure in the system, whereby the pressure upon the movable member tending to open the valve is increased at the same time that the pressure holding said valve closed is decreased.

Should a valve which is held closed by the pressure in the system return to its seat after once opening the column of Water above, the movable member may be of sufcient height to hold the valve closed against the pressure in the supply, and thus prevent further flow of water to the system.

A further object of the invention is therefore to provide simple and efiicient means for preventing this columning of the valve after it has once opened, and this is accomplished by providing a passage from the supplemental chamber to the system, which passage is normally closed, but is permanent-ly openedupon kthe reduction of the pressure in the system and consequent opening of the main valve. A

In the drawing the improvements are illustrated in connection with a differential valve; but it will be understood that they may be used with equal ad vantage in connection with the various forms of valves in which the valve is held to its seat by the pressure in the system acting against the pressure in a supplemental chamber and the pressure on the supply side of the valve.

The ligure ofthe drawing is a sectional elevation of a differential valve provided with the present improvements in their preferred form.

In the drawing the valve-casing is formed in two parts 5 and 6, held together by bolts. The part 6 is provided with the inlet-pipe 3, having a valve-seat l2 secured in the end thereof. A valve-disk 7 seats upon the seat I2 and normally closes the inlet 3. The disk 7 is preferably pivoted to a hinged arm 8 in such a manner that these parts may be swung IOO hand-plate 14 and a drainagecock 15.

back into a recess 9, when said disk is forced away from the seat 13 by the action of the water, as with this construction an unobstructed passage for the Wat-er is afforded when a full flow is required. The valve-disk 7 `has integrally formed thereon a part 7, which extends beyond the valve-seat 12 and normally closes a supplemental chamber 10, which surrounds the inlet-pipe 3. The outer wall of said chamber is provided with a seat 13, upon which the portion 7 of the disk seats. That portion 7 of the disk beyond the inlet 3 and which overlies the chamber 10 thus forms a movable member which is connected to that portion 7 of the disk forming the valve for closing the inlet by being formed integral therewith. The chamber 2 above the disk is connected to the system through the outletli, and the disk must be made of such an area that the total pressure above said disk will be greater than the total pressure exerted thereon by the pressure in chamber 10 and in the water-pipe 3. In order that the size of the disk may be reduced, I prefer to exhaust theair from the chamber 10 and form a vacuum therein, thus reducing the pressure upon the portion 7' of the disk below atmospheric pressure or producing what is commonly called a suction upon the under side of the disk. Vith a vacuum in the chamber 10 the disk may be so reduced in size that the pressure on the top would not be sufficient to hold the valve closed were the pressure in chamber 10 atmospheric, and the valve might then be released either by breaking the vacuum or by reducing the pressure in the system, or by doing both.

The chamber l0 must be closed air tight, and to accomplish this I make the rigid disk, which is pivoted to the arm 8, of slightly-less diameter than the diameter of the chamber l0 and secure to the under side of this disk a facing 1l of flexible material, preferably rubber, which extends a little beyond the outer edge of said chamber. A very narrow ring of this rubber facing is thus subjected to the combined action of the vacuum' and the compressed air, and is thereby pressed down very firmly upon the outer wall of the chamber. The Lipper edge of the inlet-pipe 3 should be beveled, as shown, so that it will embed itself slightly in the exible facing, and thus form a tight joint at this point. In order that these parts against which the valvegate formed by the disk 7 7 seats itself may be accurately iinished, the upper portions 12 and 13 of the walls of the vacuum-chamber 10 may conveniently be made in the form of brass rings cast separate from the casting G and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The chamber 2 should be provided with a I prefer to provide also a locking device for preventing the valve-gate from entirely closing when the ow of water is not sufcient to throw it back into the recess 9. This may consist of a spring-catch 29, secured to the casting 6 and arranged to spring under the edge of the gate 7 after it has been opened. Vhen the valve is to be set again, the handplate 14 is taken off, and the catch 29 is thus made accessible, so that it may be withdrawn.

Air is exhausted from the chamber 10 through a pipe 16, leading to a suitable pump. (Not shown.) The pipe 1G should be provided with a vacuum-gage 17, a drainagecock 18, and a valve 1f) for cutting off the connection with the vacuum-pump. It is also connected to a supplementary vacuumchamber 20, which by reason of its considerable size reduces the effect of any leakage that may occur.

My improved valve constructed as above described operates as follows: The pressure produced on the disk 7 7' by virtue of. the compressed air in the chamber 2 is sufficient to hold the valve closedagainst the pressure of the water,provided the vacuum in chamber' 10 is maintained, but is not sufficient to so hold the valve should the pressure in the system be reduced or the pressure in chamber 10 be increased. Thus the valve will be caused to open if either of the cocks 15 Vand 18 be opened or if the remote spraying-nozzles be automatically opened by an incipient fire. In practice,however,I prefer to provide means whereby the escape of air from the system will operate automatically to admit air to the vacuum-chamber 10, as in this manner the pressure in the system will be reduced and the pressurein the chamberl() simultaneously' increased, and the valve is' thus caused to open more quickly. To this end I provide a closed chamber 21, the top of which consists of a flexible elastic diaphragm 22, to which is secured the stem of a conical valve 23. The tendency of the diaphragm 22 is to open the valve 23, in which case communication is openedv between the chambers 2O and 21. The chamber 2l is, however, connected by pipes 24 with the system of sprinkling-pipes, and is thus normally kept full of compressed air, whereby the diaphragm 22 is pressed upward and the valve 23 kept closed. In case of fire the escape of the compressed air from the system permits the elasticfdiaphragm 22 to open IOO IIO

the valve 23, whereupon air instantly rushes i into the vacuum-chambers 10 and20, and thus quickens the opening of the valve-gate 7. The same effect may of course be produced by opening the drainage-cock 25, with which the pipes 24 should be provided.

The means for preventing the colnmning of the valve after it hasonce opened consists of a passage from the supplemental chamber to the chamber 2 or tothe system and a supplemental valve normally closing said passage and constructed or arranged to be held to its seat by the pressure inthe system until said pressure is reduced and to be opened upon the reduction of said pressure and remain open until intentionally closed. Any suitable construction and arrangement of supplemental valve which will be held to its seat until the pressure in the system is reduced and which will then be permanently opened may be employed. In employing this feature in the valve shown, which also cmbodies the other features of in ventiou already described, it is preferred for the sake of simplicity of construction to utilize the pipes 1G and' 24:, the chamber 20,' and the valve 23 for preventing columning of the valve as well as for the purpose described. In order to effeet this function of preventing the columning of the valve, the pipe 24 is connected with the system at a point so near the chamber 2 that a column of water extending from the disk 7 7' to such point will not overbalance the pressure in the inlet 3, and means are provided for causing the valve 23 when it has once opened to remain open until it is intentionally closed. With a valve' operated as valve 23 is operated an efficient means for causing the valve to remain open consists of an arm 26, pivoted to the side of the chamber 2l and provided with a hole slightly larger than the stem of the Valve 23, which stem passes through said hole and is guided at its upper end in a yoke 27, secured to the walls of the chamber. A spring 28 throws the arm 26 upward until edges of the hole formed in it bind against the sides of the stem. Thus the valve 23 will always be free to move down- Ward; but anyattempt to force it upward will 'be resisted by the binding of its stem against the edges of the hole formed in the arm 26. To release the valve 23, it is only necessary to press down the free end of the arm 26. IVith the pipe 24 connected as described and the valve 23 permanently open, when it has once opened the pressure in chamber 10 will bethe same as the pressure above' the disk 7 7', even should the valve 7 close, and columning of the valve will be prevented. By providing a construction in which the supplemental valve is held to its seat until the reduction of pressure in the system a dry-pipe system may be maintained with the same certainty as if the devices for preventing columning were not present, and by causing the supplemental valve to remain open until intentionally closed the return ot the parts to a condition which might result in columning is eifectually prevented.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a dry valve in connection with an automatic sprinkling system, yet it may obviously be used with advantage in many other connections and the structure shown and described herein may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention. It willalso be understood that the form of valve used in the passage between the supplemental chamber and the system may be varied as'desired, provided said passage is opened upon the reduction ot' pressure in the system and consequent opening of the main valve and remains open even should the main valve close.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a valve, the combination with an inletpipe adapted to contain iuid under pressure, of a valve for closing said pipe, a vacuumchamber, a chamber for connection with the system, and a movable member between said chambers acting to hold said valve to its seat..

2. In a valve, the combination with an inletpipe adapted to contain iiuid under pressure, of a valve normally closing said pipe, a vacuu m-chamber, a chamber for connection with the system, a movable member between said chambers and means simultaneously diminishing the vacuum and pressure in the respective chambers.

3. In a differential valve, the combination with an inlet-pipe adapted to contain a Huid' under pressure, of a valve-gate normally clos' ing said pipe, two independent means for applying and rendering effective pressure upon said gate in opposition to the pressure in the inlet-pipe, said means severally applying and rendering effective less pressure but jointly greater pressure than the pressure in the inlet-pipe, and means for rendering inoperative one of said means.

4. In a differential valve, the combination with an inlet-pipe adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, of a valve-gate normally clos-- ing said pipe, two independent means for applying and rendering effective pressure upon said gate in opposition to the pressure in the inlet-pipe, said means severally applying and rendering eective less pressure but jointly greater pressure than the pressure in lthe inlet-pipe, and means for automatically and simultaneously rendering inoperative both of said means.

5. In a differential valve, an inlet-pipe adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, a vacuum-chamber, a valve-gate normally closing both pipe and chamber simultaneously, a chamber inclosing the valve-gate, and containing compressed air, and means for simultaneously diminishing the vacuum and the air-pressure in their respective chambers.

6. In a differential valve, an inlet-pipe, a vacuum-chamber surrounding the same, a movable valve-gate arranged to simultaneously close both the inlet-pipe and the vacuum-chamber, said gate comprising a rigid disk of slightly-less area than the vacuum-chamber with its inclosed pipe and a iiexible facing projecting beyond the edges of said disk and secured thereto, in combination with means for operating said valve.

7. In a differential valve, an inlet pipe adapted to contain a iuid under pressure, a valve-gate normally held closed against said pipe by means of a compressed-air pressure and a vacuum operating in separate chambers, and a valve connecting the compressedair system with the vacuum-chamber and arranged to open automatically when the compressed-air pressure is diminished.

ICO

IOS

IIO

Y ed to be connected with the system, a supple- I. adapted to contain fluid under pressure, a dif- 8. yThe combination with an inlet pipe adapted to contain fluid under pressure, of a Valve for closing said inlet, a chamber adaptmental chamber, a movable member between said chambers for holding said valve closed by the action of the pressure in the system, a supplemental valve communicating between said chambers, means for holding said supplemental Valve to its seat by the pressure in the system until said pressure is reduced, and means for causing said supplemental valve to open upon the reduction of said pressure and remain open until intentionally closed.

9. The vcombination with a dierential valve operated by compressed air, of a supplemental chamber normally closed by the Valve, a supplemental .valve communicating between said chamber and the system, means for holding said supplemental valve closed by the pressure in the system until said pressure is reduced and means for causing said supplemental Valve to open upon the reduction of said pressure,land,remain open until intentionally closed.

10. The combination with an inlet pipe ferential valve adapted to be held closed against said inlet by pressure in a compressedair system, a supplement-al chamber closed by said valve, a system of pipes outside of the valve-casing leading from said chamber to said system and a Valve in said passage arranged to permanently and automatically open when the compressed-air pressure is diminished.

11. The combination with an inlet-pipe adapted to contain fluid under pressure, of a Valve for closing said inlet, a chamber adapted to be connected with the system, a su pplemental chamber, a movable member between by the action of pressure in the system, a passage outside of said chambers leading from one chamber to the other, a valve in said passage held toits seat by the pressure in the system and adapted to be permanently opened on the reductiou'of said pressure.

12. In a diierential Valve operated by compressed air, a supplementary chamber normally closed by the valve-gate, a system of pipes outside of the valve-casing leading from the said chamber to a point in the compressedair system located a short distance above the valve-gate, as described, and a valve included in the said system of pipes and arranged to open automatically when the compressed-air pressure is diminished, for the purpose sct forth.

13. In a diierential valve, an inlet-pipe adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, a valve-gate normally held closed against said pipe by means of a compressed-air pressure operating in a suitable chamber, a supplement-ary chamber normally closed by said Valve-gate, a system of pipes outside ot' the Valve-casing leading from the supplementary chamber to a point in the compressed-air system located a short vdistance from the Valvegate, as described, and a valve included in said system of pipes and arranged to open automatically when the compressed-air pressure is diminished, for the purpose set forth.

EVERETT U. CROSBY.

Witnesses:

HARRY C. NEWELL, E. D. CHADWICK.

Y.said chambers for holding said valve closed 

